For this year’s Basic Education Certificate Examination (BECE) and West African Senior School Certificate Examination (WASSCE), the government has allocated GH55 million to the West Africa Examination Council (WAEC).
On Thursday, July 27, 2023, Winifred Ampiaw of WAEC’s public relations department verified receipt of the funds on Eyewitness News.
“I can confirm that we have gotten some funding to help us conduct the exams for both the WASSCE and the BECE. For the remaining amount, there is a payment schedule. To date, we have received GH10.5 million for the BECE and GH40 million for the WASSCE in order to conduct the exams. This sum will allow us to take care of the pre-exam preparation and exam administration.
With this sum, we will be able to handle both the preparation for the tests and their actual administration. I am certain that we have the funds since we have received GH$55 million in total.
“The payment is for the tests this year; we are expected to spend over GH18 million on the BECE. The overall cost for the WASSCE will be GH63.5 million if the pre and main are conducted separately. We have roughly GH7.5 million remaining. However, I want to reassure the general public that we will be able to hold both tests this year.
This follows concerns made by the Minority that the government’s refusal to fulfil its financial responsibilities to WAEC may prevent the 2023 WASSCE and BECE from taking place.
Speaking to reporters in Parliament, the minority education spokesperson, Peter Nortsu-Kotoe, voiced worry over the fact that WAEC urgently needs more than GH 50 million to pay its debts and ensure the smooth administration of the 2023 exams.
He referred to the government’s failure to disburse funds for compensating people who volunteered their services during the 2022 WASSCE as one of the current issues faced by WAEC.
In response to the Minority’s assertions on Eyewitness News, Reverend John Ntim Fordjour, the deputy minister of education, indicated that the government is working to clear the remaining debt.
“I want to firmly say that everything is set up for BECE to start on August 7; nothing has changed. WAEC will continue to administer BECE. Debt-related worries were raised and brought to our attention. Reverend Ntim-Fordjour stated that as of yesterday (July 26), GH40 million had been paid to WAEC to assist them in their operations.
